Tennis Holiday in Portoroz: A 7-Day Guide to Playing on the Slovenian Coast

A tennis holiday doesn't have to mean early-morning drills and serious face. Some of the best weeks we have on court are with people who come to Portoroz to play because they enjoy it — not because they're chasing a tournament. The serve doesn't need to get faster. The point is just to be on a clay court near the sea, with a friend or a coach, in good light, with somewhere lovely to have lunch.

This is a guide to exactly that kind of holiday: relaxed tennis in Portoroz, with the option to come on your own or bring a group. Six courts, the Adriatic ten minutes' walk away, and a town that's small enough to forget what day it is by Wednesday.

Come on your own. Or bring everyone.

Both work, and most weeks we have a mix of both on court.

•   Solo travellers — private lessons mean you set the pace. Want a gentle 60 minutes a day for a week, just to keep moving? Done. Want one hour every other day so you can spend the rest at the beach? Also done.

•   Couples — a private session for two is the easiest holiday lesson there is. We rally, we play a few light games, we laugh when one of you forgets which side to serve on. Both of you leave looser than you came.

•   Groups of friends — three to six players is the sweet spot for a group lesson. We adjust difficulty so nobody is bored and nobody is overwhelmed. I

t feels like a tennis morning with friends, just with somebody making sure it stays fun.

•   Families — parents on one court, kids on the next, a coach on each. Everybody finishes at the same time and walks to the sea together.

Tell us roughly who's coming and we'll suggest the format. Nothing is fixed; we move people between private and group sessions through the week if the mood changes.

A sample 7-day rhythm

This isn't a programme. It's the shape most of our holiday players settle into without anyone really planning it.

Day 1 — Arrive and stretch the legs

Land in Trieste (about 40 minutes away) or Ljubljana (about 90 minutes). Check in, walk the Portorož waterfront, get your bearings. If the light is still good and you fancy it, an easy 45-minute hit on court — just to feel the clay under your shoes and shake the travel off.

Day 2 — Morning on court, afternoon in Piran

An hour or so on court — solo with a coach, with your partner, or in a small group. Soft start, plenty of rallying, no pressure. Lunch in town at one of the konobas, then a slow walk to Piran along the coastal path. About 30 minutes, the sea on one side, salt in the air. Climb the bell tower if your legs still want it.

Day 3 — Beach day, sunset hit

Sleep in. Spend the day at the beach, on a boat, or by the hotel pool. Come back to the courts for an hour as the heat eases — early evening light on clay is one of the nicest moments of the day, and nobody minds if the rallies are short and the laughs are long.

Day 4 — Rest day or wine country

Take a proper day off. The Karst wine region is 45 minutes away — bright teran wines, terraced vineyards, long lunches in family cellars. Or stay closer and walk the salt pans of Sečovlje, a UNESCO landscape that's quietly one of the most beautiful walks on the coast.

Day 5 — Group morning, beach afternoon

If you've come with friends or family, this is usually the day everyone wants to be on court together. A relaxed group lesson — mixed doubles points, rotating partners, a few cones for shape but nothing too serious. Afternoon back at the beach, or a slow lunch in Strunjan.

Day 6 — One favourite thing, then dinner

By now you know what you enjoy. Maybe it's another hour with the coach. Maybe it's an hour of doubles with your partner. Maybe it's just renting a court for the four of you and playing for the sake of it. We're around for whichever it is. Dinner somewhere on the harbour.

Day 7 — Easy morning, then home

A short, easy hit to send you off. Coffee on the terrace afterwards. Most people leave already half-planning when they'll be back.

Where to stay

•   Luxury — Kempinski Palace Portorož and Grand Hotel Bernardin, both within a short walk of the courts.

•   Mid-range — LifeClass Hotels, four connected properties with spa access and direct beach.

•   Apartments — Plenty of options on the hill behind the marina — better value for families or groups of friends.

Message us before you book and we'll happily flag the ones that work best for visiting tennis players — quietest, closest, with a kettle in the room.

When to come

•   April–May — our favourite. Empty town, cool mornings, courts to yourself, clay at its best.

•   June and September — warm enough to swim, not yet stifling. The sweet spot for a longer trip.

•   July–August — hot. Play in the morning, swim and rest in the middle of the day, hit again as the sun softens.

•   October–March — quieter, mild on most days, perfect for an off-season getaway. Hard courts under the lights are open in the evenings.

Booking

Send us a message with your dates and a sentence or two about who's coming with you. We'll come back with a simple plan and the prices. Nothing has to be locked in advance — half of the people we work with change their minds mid-week and add a court for the kids, or swap a private hour for a doubles session with friends.